The National Head Start Program was created in 1965 to provide education and social support to low-income families with pre-school-age kids to prepare them for school. In 1995, the Early Head Start Program began and expanded these services to low-income families with kids zero to three years old and people who are pregnant. These programs are still available in the United States, including here in Green County.
Reach Green is the local organization that offers Head Start and Early Head Start to families in Green County. Reach Green is a branch of Reach Dane, an organization that offers the same programs in Dane County. Green County Public Health partners with Reach Green to offer nursing home visiting as a part of Early Head Start. The mission of Reach Green is “to change the lives of underserved children and families through education and supportive services.”
Early Head Start is a home-visiting program to help families achieve their family’s goals, support parents as their children’s first teachers, and strengthen their relationship with their child. This program is available to low-income pregnant women and families with babies and toddlers under age three. Families that are a part of Early Head Start visit with a Family Advocate every week. A Public Health Nurse is available for home visits and support during pregnancy and after giving birth on a monthly basis. Early Head Start provides breastfeeding support, activities for parents and kids, mental health services, child health and developmental screenings and referrals and services for kids with special needs and/or disabilities. Family Advocates also help families with getting connected to resources like housing, medical care, and employment.
Head Start is a program that helps prepare kids for school. Low-income families with kids at least three years old may be eligible to be a part of this program. Reach Green also offers a home-based Head Start program and Head Start 4K, which is a classroom-based program. Head Start 4k is at Lincoln Elementary School in Monroe.
The home-based Head Start program is for parents interested in weekly home visits to help meet the goals of their family and kids. This program offers activities for parents and kids, tools to strengthen parent/child relationships, child development assessments, and help to find resources.
The Head Start 4K program is located at Abraham Lincoln School and helps prepare kids for kindergarten. At 4K, Kids get a nutritious meal and snacks, help with special needs and/or disabilities, and there is transportation for kids in the service area. This program is only available to children in Monroe.
Early Head Start and the home-based Head Start program have monthly Family Fun events. These are times for parents to connect with each other, for kids to play, and for families to enjoy food and games.
Any family who is interested in learning more about Early Head Start or Head Start can visit the Reach Green website at https://www.reachdane.org/reach-green/ .People can also call (608) 334-3709 or email destes@reachdane.org for more information.
— Bridget Zimmerman is the Public Health Educator for the Green County Public Health Department and can be reached at bzimmerman@greengountywi.org or 608-328-9509.
